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CHAPTER CIII.: ENTITLED SURAT AL ASAR (THE AFTERNOON). Revealed at Makkah. - Mohammed, The Quran, vol. 4 [1896]

Edition used:

A Comprehensive Commentary on the Quran: Comprising Sale’s Translation and preliminary Discourse, with Additional Notes and Emendations (London: Kegan Paul, Trench, Trubner, and Co., 1896). 4 vols.

Part of: The Quran, 4 vols.

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CHAPTER CIII.

ENTITLED SURAT AL ASAR (THE AFTERNOON).

Revealed at Makkah.

INTRODUCTION.

This chapter seems to be merely a remnant of some longer Sura. Muir places it at the head of his chronological list of Suras, and therefore first among Muhammad’s soliloquies. As to the

Probable Date of the Revelations,

the most that we can say is that the chapter belongs to the number of the early Makkan Suras.

Principal Subjects.

verses
Men generally seek for gain and find loss1, 2
The righteous, however, are the exception to this rule3, 4

IN THE NAME OF THE MOST MERCIFUL GOD.

R .

∥ (1) By the afternoon; (2) verily man employeth himself in that which will prove of loss: (3) except those who believe and do that which is right; (4) and who mutually recommend the truth, and mutually recommend perseverance unto each other.

[(1) ]The afternoon, “or the time from the sun’s declination to his setting, which is one of the five appointed times of prayer. The original word also signifies ‘the age,’ or ‘time’ in general.”—Sale.